Ball-bearing spindle



4F. H. CHAPMAN.

l BALL BEARING SPINDLE.

APPucATloN FILED Dc.1a. 1911.

Patented May 4,1920.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE."

FRED HILDBETH CHAPMAN, OF WIN CHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BALL-BEARING sPrNDLE.

Speeicationof Letters Patent.

Application tiled.I December 18, 1917. Serial No. 207,749. I

the United States filed November 27, 1916,

Serial Number 133,556. My present objects are principally to provide a spindle having a ball bearing step to carry the perpendicular load, together with a latera ball bearing to determine the position of thelspindle and sustain the pull of the driving band, together with means for adjusting and renewing the lateral bearing to compensate for the effects of wear; and further to furnish as an article of commerce a step bearing of` the ball bearing type adapted for use with spindles of various sorts. f

As the result of many years ,practice in the manufacture of ball bearing spindles, and of experimentation and careful study of the capacity of spindles of this type to; resist wear, l have found that while it is possible to harden the blade of a spindle at its lower end or step sufficiently to withstand-the wear of an ordinary step bearing, without at the same time making the balance of the blade so brittle as to be in under the stresses met with in practical use, it is not possible to give the blade that quality of hardness which is required for the ballraces and balls of a ball bearing, wherefore the blade can not be caused satisfactorily to run in contact with balls at its foot. This is due to the fact that the blade must have great stiffness to prevent bending under the stresses met with in service, which include those resulting from the rotation of the blade at extremely high speed while carrying a more or less` unbalanced load, wherefore the blade must'be'made of a relatively high-carbon steel to give it the necessary hardness 'and stiffness. But such steel cannot be made resistant to the particular 'character of wear caused by running in contact with balls, because 1f hardened it is so brittle that its surface cracks and chips' freedom yweight 'of the blade, and by which the blade danger of breaking f under the concentrated pressure applied through the points of contact-with the balls, while ifv not hardened, it does not suficiently resist wear.

Having regard to these observed facts, it has .been my object to provide a step' bearing equipped with balls, which `will give to the spindle all of the benefits of comparative from friction while supporting the itself will be' protected from .y coming into direct contact with the balls.

This object is accomplished in the ball bearing step having the characteristicsl hereinafter particularly pointed out, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. l Thisis one of the features of my present invention.

Another feature of the invention concerns the adjustment and renewal of a lateral bearing of the same general type as that vshown Patented May4, 1920.

in my prior application Serial No. 133,556,

hereinbefore referred to, and includes a reversible orinvertible bolster or sleeve forming lthe outerball race or contact surface for the lateral ball bearing, and means for shifting the position 'of the wise with respect to this sleeve or bolster. The invention consists in the new features of combination between a spindle blade and the adjustable and renewable lateral bearing; in the combination of such blade with the ball bearing step, both with and without the improved lateral bearing, and with and without capacity for lateral cushioned movement of the step; and in the improved ball bearing step and all structures equivalent to the specific embodiment of that construction hereinafter described, as Set forth in the following specification in connection with the drawings, and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical or longitudinal centralpsectional view of a s indle embodying the improvements whichil here claim.

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a plan view and a longitudinal section of the lateral bearing sleeve or bolster hereinbefore referred to.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a longitudinal section and a plan viewl of the part which I call a keyed ring.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan view and an elevation, partly broken away, shown on an enlarged scale of my novel ball Abearing step.

' The same reference characters i indicato the same parts in all the figures.

The illustration of the invention as hemf inbefore brieiiy described shows the same as a plied to a spindle of the specific type'disc osed in my prior ap lication Serial Number 133,556, or wh1c reason -I shall confine /my description of the parts which are commonv to the drawings 1n this and the prior application, to a brief cataloge of the same, using the same reference ters.' 15 is the spindle base, 16 `the tubular band pull, which. for this extension or socket thereof closed at the lower end, 17 aclamp nut threadedon such extension to clamp the same to the rail of a spinning frame; 18 is the blade or indle proper, 19 the whirl fixed on the b e, and

20 the -pulley with which the whirlis provided to receive the driv' band whereby the spindley is rotated. l'llhe ball bearing which centers theA blade and supports the called thelateral ball bearing, in distinction from the step bearing ball, occupies the same relation to the whirly 'and 4its pulley as A defined in said rior application, and com-4 prises balls 21, inner ball race 22, the outer all race.23 which vin this specification I have called also a sleeve and-a bolster, and aretaining ring 26 fitted 1on the sleeve 22 Jwhich provides the inner race, and suiciently overhanging the ballsl to retainthem 4in the groove in sa1d sleeve.

ameter than the exterior of the extension 16, and being preferably also provided with a wrapping of elastic'ally yielding compressible material, preferably felt or textile fabric, or equivalent fibrous material.' 32

is the arm at one side of the base having 1|.Y

passage 33, and 34 a post having a p es, 35 risingvfrom the arm and carrying th dofer guard 36 which is made to provide also a cover for the inlet tube p se;

These passa es admit o il to the interiori". maintain the level .of the oil? the base an v therein abovethe lateral ball bea 39 is the oill stop attached to the blade having the construction, location, and functions of I, the corresponding `stop described in my prior application.

, The novel. features of the resent invention include the following: rilhe bolster or outer sleeve for the lateral ball healing is reversible, and for that pu ose it is made alike at both ends-and is alli ted to be removed from the base,'reverse and its other end inserted. Engagement between this' sleeve or bolster and the sleeve 28, to center the latter sleeve and revent its rotation, is made by what I call) a keyed ring 41 whichl fits frictionally within the sleeve 23 reason I have .material such as felt.

has aninwardly Ilozlfset part 42,` forming l @y inthe sleeve 28. The latter has an enlarged portion28 which fits the interior of the ring 41A with sufficient looseness to permit which'enters a groove or a lkeywayv 43 y its lower end, with the step bearing, to move laterally as far as permitted by the limits of the base extension or sockets 16. This ke ed ring 41 comes out with the sleeve or bo r 2 3l when the latter is withdrawn from the base, and may be driven out from Vone end, and inserted in the other end, of

such bolster, without injury, when the 'latt teris to be reversed'.

The ball 'bearing' step comprises twol thrust blocks 44 and 45 and a set of balls'46 socket 49 in the block 45, and underlappmg a shoulder 50 at the bottom of such socket.

44, and loosely tted The looseness or the lost motion which is provided between both the shank and head of this pivot and the block45, permits the latter to adjust itself to the balls/ and avoids danger of bindingv the latter. At the same time the lost motion in the axial direction is less than the depth of either ball race,

that the blockscan not be separated acci-,-

Thusthe bearing is a self-contained7 unit adapted to be marketed as such and to be Yap lied b the purchaser to the spindle.

n a p ying this step bearing it is inserted into the lower end ofthe ystep bearing sleeve 28, which is bored out to receive but not loosely, in the bored out recess in the sleeve, or it may be secured firmly therein, while penetration of the bearingfinto such recess is limited by a lip 51 on the end of this block. The block 44 is of smaller diameter and does not extend to the end of the recess, whereby it rotatesfreely without touching any part of the sleeve 28. 'It has'a socket 52 in which the bottom end or foot of the blade may enter, and on the bottom of which the latter may rest. to lubricate the step bearing 1s admitted through the holes 53 in the sides of the sleeve 28 opposite to the balls.

The bottom of the step bearing rests upon the spacing washers 54, the same being preferably of metal, which in turn rest upon a cushion 55 formed of some compressible These washers and cushion support the step bearing, and the latter supports the blade and the load mounted on the blade, relieving the' lateral dental'ly far enough to let the balls fall out.l l

Oil.

bearing of al1 load except that imposed 1.30

` mounting, etc., by

` vantages compensate for wear is accomp adding one or ers 54 from time to time so as to bring the tra washers being removed as required.

contact withy any of the laterally by the driving band and by the centrifugal force of an unbalanced loading rotational'speed, as fully explained in my aforesaid Aprior application. In addition to all of the advantages and useful features set forth in my prior application before referred to, this improved spindle includes the following. n

of the blade does not dis-v (1) Removal balls of the step place or disarrange the i earing 1nv any manner. All spindles are setting, cleaning, disthe work people emwho are not necessarily eicient mechanics, and whose knowledge of mechanism is in fact frequently very limited indeed. In dismounting and mountf ing the spindle the bearings can not become disarranged, and in mounting), the several elements of the spindle can e assembled in only one way, the proper way, to make the spindle run at al. n other words, it is not possible to mount the spindle incorrectly, deceptive appearance of being in proper running order.

(2) The invention combines the adof a ball step bearin with the desired freedom for lateral cus ioned movement of the spindle step.

(3) Adjustment of the subject to handling,

ployed in the mill,

lateral bearing to lished by more washers like the washbearing point of the balls upon the outer sleeve or bolster to an unworn zone of the latter. When the limitof ad'ustment in this manner has bolster 23a may in the manner previously described, the 'lee blade 'and inner sleeve 28 are readily removable for thev purpose of adding or removing washers, withdrawn ,the step bearing comes with it, the latter bein fitted tightly enough into the sleeve for tat purpose. The reduction in diameterin the step bearin vided to permit the lateral cus ioned movement,v enables it to be withdrawn freely through the keyed ring 41. I

(4) As the blade itself does not come in balls, either those of the step bearing or of the lateral bearing, it is not exposed to defacement orinjury through wear.. -The blade is one of the most expensive elements of the spindle, due to the cost of making and of the high grade material of which it is made, and its life vdetermines the life .f the entire but in such a manner as to give a Y lsupporting and positioning said blade,

f resting been reached, t e sleeve or be -inverted and' replaced and when the sleeve isv sleeve, proi spindle, for when a blade becomes worn the whole spindle is discarded and a new one substituted. By reason of the total exclusion of all wear from the blade of my spindle, there would seem to be no limit to its useful life barring accidents. The protection of the blade from the balls of the lateral beari is a `feature of my prior ap lication a oresaid, but the combination o this feature with a means for protecting the blade from the balls of the step bearing, is a part of the invention whiclrI claim herein. v(5) The principles embodied in the construction and assemblage of the step bearing are applicable to the production of a step bearing havin any s ecific dimensions and proportions to e mar eted for use with spindles of various kinds and as repair parts. The assembling of the bearing is performed in the factory of its origin, and the user need only put it -in place, being thereby relieved of the necessity of assembling or adjusting it, and of the liability of an incorrect assemblage or adjustment.

(6) A ball bearing spindle is provided of which the weight of the blade and its load is borne entirely by one ball bearing, and the lateral pull and thrust are borne by another bearing, which latter is relieved of the support of any (part ofthe vertical load. What I claim an desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spindle comprising a blade, a lateral ball bearing and a ball vbearing step the bladeA being out of contact with the balls and being mounted with the step bearing for lateral cushioned movement.

' 2. spindle comprising a base having a socket extension, a blade, a ball bearing'step on the bottom of said socket extension and on which said blade rests, and a j lateral bearing for the blade, the step and the foot of the blade being capable of lateral cushioned movement.

3. A spindle comprising a base, a blade, a ball bearing step supporting the blade, and a lateral bearing, both bearings being supported by the base submerged in oil and arranged with the balls thereof out of contact with the blade.

4. A spindle comprising a blade a ball bearing step on is supported, a lateral bearing for the blade, a base supporting said bearings and containing a body of oil wherein the bearings are submerged, 'the foot of the blade-and the ball bearing step being free to move/laterally. Y 5. A spindle comprising a base, a blade, a'lateral bearing for the blade, and a step bearing comprising balls and thrust .blocks so connected as to forma unit, the bladeA resting upon one of said blocks. l,

6. A spindle comprising a base, a blade,

which the foot of said blade vof said balls thereon.

blade and runnin a step bearing supporting said blade comprising relatively movable thrust blocks and balls interposed between them and means 'bearin said blade being out of contact with the ba s of both bearings, said step being mounted with freedom of lateral movement.

9. A spindle comprising a blade, a ball bearing stepA on which said blade rests, a cushion on which said step is mounted, a lateral ball bearing for the lade, both bearings being submerged in oil and the blade being out of contact with the balls of both bearin and the blade and step being arrange with capability for lateral cushionedl movement.

10. A s indle comprising a base, a step bearin a lade supported by said step bearing, a ateral ball bearing including a series of balls carried by said blade but out of direct contact therewith and an outer sleeve or bolster, a base on which said step rests,

Aand removable filling pieces inserted between. said step and base for adjusting the position of the lateral ball bearing with respect to said sleeve orbolster.

11. A spindle comprisinga blade, a base and a lateral bearing comprising a sleeve surrounding the blade and mounted on said base, and a series of" balls carried by the blade and runnin in contact with the inner surface of said s eeve, the sleeve being removable and invertible to distribute the wear 12. spindle comprising a blade, a base, and a lateral bearing comprising a sleeve surrounding the blade and mounted on said baseI and a series of balls carried by the in contact with the inner surface of -said s eeve, the sleeve being removable and invertible to distribute the Wear of said balls thereon, a second sleeve extending from said bearing sleeve and surround-V ing the lower end of the blade', and a keyed ring fitting within the first sleeve frictionallyand having a key engaging the second sleeve; said ring being removable from one end ofthe bearing sleeve and insertible in the op osite end thereof.

13. `ball bearing s indle comprising a base, an invertible bearing sleeve or bolster rising from said base and attached at one end thereto, a blade passing through saidv fsleeve, a bail race and a series of balls carried thereby mounted on the blade within the sleeve, said balls engaging'the inner surface of the sleeve, and a whirl mounted on the blade and having a part surrounding said. sleeve, said'sleeve being alike at both ends and detachably mounted, whereby it may be removed, inverted, and replaced to distribute the wear of the ballsthereon.

14. A ball bearing spindle comprising a b ase, an invertible bearing sleeve or bolster rising from said base and attached at one end thereto, 'a blade passing'through said sleeve, a ball race and a series of balls carried therebymounted on the blade within the sleeve, said balls engaging the inner surface of the sleeve, and a whirl mounted on the blade and having a art surrounding said sleeve, said sleeve being alike at both ends and detachably mounted, whereby it may be removed, inverted and replaced to distribute the wear of the balls thereon, a step bearing for said blade and means for elevating and depressin said step bearing to shift the aforesaid ba ls into contact with a different zone of the sleeve. l 15. A spindle com risin a base a bearing sleeve or bolster xed etachabiy at one end to said base and rising therefrom, a step sleeve passing from within said sleeve downwardly into the base, a step bearing on the latter sleeve, a keyed ring fitting frictionally within one bearing sleeve and fitting loosely around said step sleeve, 'said ring and the step sleeve having a complemental key and l groove coupling a ball bearing step engaged with the end o said s tep sleeve, a

blade passing through both sleeves and rest' ing on said step, a all race carried by the blade within said bearing sleeve, and balls carried by faceof t e bearing sleeve, t e latter being removable and invertible to distribute the wear of the balls thereon.

16. A s indle comprising a base, a bearing sleeve or olster fixed detachabl at one end to said base and rising there rom, a step said race4 engagin the inner sursleeve passing from within said sleeve downwardly into the base, a step bearing on the latter sleeve, a keyed ring iittin frictionally within said bearing sleeve and fitting loosely around said step sleeve, said rin and the .step sleeve having a complementa key and roove coupling, a ball bearing ste en a ed vith the end of said step sleeve, a bliadegpgssing throughboth sleeves and restin on said step, a ball race carried by the bla e within said bearing sleeve, and balls" carried by said race engagin the inner surface of the bearing sleeve, t e latter being removable and invertible to distribute the wear of the balls step re latable to raiseand lower the thereon and an adjustable support for said balls carried by the blade with respect to the bearing sleeve, whereby to distribute the eects of wear from the balls thereon.

17. In a spindle he combination with a blade of a ball bearin step comprising thrust blocks, one of whic is provided with a socket receiving the blade and from which the bladeis removable by simple endwise movement, a pivot or swivel connectin said blocks in an axially alined relation an per,- mitting one to turn relatively to the other and a circular series of balls interposed between said blocks and surrounding said pivot or swivel. 4 v 18. In a spindle the combination with a blade and a base having a socket of thrust blocks swiveled together in coaxial alinement, a pivot so connecting said blocks, said blade of a ste blocks having ball races in their contiguous v ends concentric with said pivot, and a series of balls occupying said races, and thrust blocks being contained in the socket and supporting the blade. n

19. In a spindle the combination with a bearing comprising thrust blocks swivele together in coaxial alinement, a pivot so connecting said blocks, said blocks having ball races in their contiguous ends concentric with said pivot, and a series of balls occupying said races, said pivot being constructed to permit axial movement between the blocks to an extent less than the depth of either ball race.

In testimony whereof I have aixed my signature.

FRED HILDRETH CHAPMAN. 

